Available to See in Kenosha

We have a 2017 available to see, while we rig it for the new owner, spring 2017 delivery !!

This all-new model from Catalina incorporates crisp, contemporary styling with proportions and features that make Catalinas comfortable and secure underway and on the hook.

Based on a new hull design with a long waterline and moderate beam and freeboard, the 445 will have excellent performance potential. The hull form is optimized to provide the gentle, predictable motion underway, which is so appreciated in other Catalina models.

The deck is strikingly handsome with a low profile cabin structure, twin helm stations and a roomy cockpit with tall, secure comfortable coamings and a cockpit table that seats 4-6. The deck is finished with a traditional diamond-patterned non-skid.

The owner's cabin is forward for privacy and optimum ventilation. Private head access from the forward cabin along with a electric head and separate shower complete the forward cabin arrangement. The guest cabin is aft with a large comfortable double berth, angled for easy access and greater headroom.

This new design incorporates a innovative cabin on the port side. This cabin is a flexible space that can easily be converted to whatever your cruising style dictates at the time-sleeping quarters, storage, or a work room with a bench. The galley has the storage and features needed for extended cruising.

After spending the last few seasons replacing tried-and-true models in the Catalina line, designer Gerry Douglas headed in an entirely new direction when he sat down to draw the lines for the new Catalina 445, a twin-helm, sporty-looking sailboat that will claim a place of its own in the company's Ocean Series, between the 440 and 470.I say sporty because the 445 is a bit narrower (with a beam of 13 feet 7 inches) than its Catalina cousins, and the cabin top has a low profile and is sleek, tapering off to meet the foredeck ahead of the Seldén slightly fractional (at 19/20ths) mast. And hull number one, the boat I test-sailed on San Francisco Bay, was fitted out with a removable bowsprit that let us power up in the uncharacteristically light-air conditions with a code zero headsail. When the wind picked up late in the afternoon, we easily furled the A sail on its flexible furler, set the 135-percent working genoa, and reached along the city's waterfront and out toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

In breezes that ranged from single digits to the high teens, the boat moved along quite well. Like other recent Catalinas, the 445 has the sail area it needs when the waves are still ripples. With a breeze in the 10-knot range, we made about 5.5 knots over the ground and tacked through angles that hinted at the 445's P.H.R.F. racing potential. When the breeze builds, the roller-furling main with vertical battens and the genoa can be reduced accordingly, though I found that even in the late-day gusts, the 445 stood up well to its full sail plan.Douglas, in fact, designed his latest cruising boat with the occasional racer or performance-interested skipper in mind. The laminate schedule used to lay up the hull-solid glass to the waterline, and balsa-cored above and in the deck-was beefed up, and longitudinal aluminum stiffeners were added halfway up each side of the hull to create a structure that would be up to the demands of offshore racing-or bluewater voyaging.

Catalina is a company that listens to its customers, and Douglas says that the message he heard from owners was that most couples who want a 40-something footer don't often need three cabins but could use more storage. Forward, the owner's roomy stateroom features a queen-size bed-the bed's forward end can be tilted up with an electric motor for reading-and its own head and shower.Aft, to starboard, is a second large cabin, this one fit out with a diagonally situated double. This cabin shares its head and shower with the saloon. Both fore and aft heads connect to gravity-drain holding tanks with a combined 54 gallons of capacity. Located on opposite sides of the boat, both face inward, ensuring that there'll be a place to go on either tack.Aft and to port of the companionway is a smaller cabin that can be set up to meet an owner's needs at the time: as a sleeping quarter for friends or kids or, with the berth folded up, a storage space or workshop. Access to this cabin is through a door aft of the galley and also from above, through the cockpit settee. The L-shaped galley sports a three-burner propane stove and oven, Isotherm refrigeration, and a number of amenities that a cook will appreciate, including storage for a set of Calphalon pots, an idea that Douglas' wife came up with to prevent rattling.

Teak laminates and solid teak trim are found throughout. In the saloon, a portside U-shaped couch surrounds a table that can be lowered to create another double berth. Opposite, chairs sit to either side of a small table that can also be lowered to form a berth or settee. Just aft is the nav station, with room for paper charts and a dedicated place to set a laptop.Comfortable as the interior was, on the day we went sailing I spent most of my time topside, enjoying the ride. There's ample room at the twin wheels for the helmsman to get comfortable, and visibility as far as sails and telltales are concerned is excellent. On the boat we sailed, the optional wood cockpit tabletop added a bit of flare to the easy-to-maintain fiberglass topside, and the built-in cooler beneath it will be welcomed on a hot day.

All sail-control lines lead aft from the mast to winches near the companionway, as they do on all Catalinas. My one gripe is that the mainsheet leads there, too, meaning that you have to leave the wheel to trim it. That said, with an autopilot and easy-to-negotiate cockpit, the job is doable. The 445 is powered by a 54-horsepower Yanmar and a conventional shaft and prop. Leaving the dock and while under way, the boat responded quickly under power, and noise levels below seemed within reason. Engine access is excellent, thanks to an engine box that can be moved out of the way, and I liked they way the filters were grouped together in a small closet.

The 445 comes with either a fin or a wing keel, both made of lead, which isn't always the norm on a price-conscious production boat. Because our test sail doubled as a photo shoot for the just-launched boat, I got to spend a lot more time sailing the 445 than I normally would. I found lots of comfortable places to while away the afternoon and appreciated the boat's ability to handle changing conditions of wind and sea state. Simply put, as a sometimes racer or an all-the-time cruiser, the new boat from Catalina is one that you'll enjoy spending time aboard. And that's the whole idea, isn't it

Catalina listens to what cruisers and customers want—the all-new and innovative 445 is the latest result. At first sight you know there is something different about the new Catalina 445. The design’s topsides appear lower than her sister ships and the cabin top has a lower profile. The cockpit is large and has twin wheels and throughout the cabin the moldings are more angular, more modern than we have seen from Catalina before.This is the next generation Catalina and it has been created to be a fine liveaboard home, a sweet sailing, offshore-quality boat and an excellent, long-term value for its owners.BWS joined Catalina’s V.P. Gerry Douglas, who designed the 445, aboard the new boat in Oakland, Calif., for a test spin on San Francisco Bay. The boat had just premiered at the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show to a very warm reception from dealers and potential customers.Gerry took the helm, we cast off the mooring lines and he then backed the new 445 out of the slip and turned for the channel. The new boat maneuvered easily and surely and had enough horsepower to cruise at 6 knots with only 1,800 rpm showing on the tachometer.The boat was equipped with a roller furling headsail and an in-mast roller furling mainsail which make sailing the new boat a breeze. Unfortunately breeze was the missing element in our cruise of San Francisco Bay. But that didn’t stop us. We tried the genoa for a while and then opted to roll it up and launch the new Screecher, which is a fairly flat cut reaching sail on its own free-flying roller furling system.The Screecher did the trick so we were able to reach away from the Oakland shore and out into the bay toward the Bay Bridge. It was a glorious spring Monday and we were slipping along nicely in the 80-degree sunshine.The Design

The new 445 is an evolutionary design for Douglas and Catalina. The hull is finer and slipperier than it’s nearest Catalina cousin, the amazingly durable Catalina 42. The hull’s design numbers tells us a lot about the parameters of the boat. The sail area-to-displacement ratio is 18.1, which is higher than most other production boats in this size range and indicates that the boat has been spec’d out and rigged for better than average sailing ability and speed. (The SA/D is a measure of a design’s “power to weight” ratio.)The displacement-to-length ratio of 165 indicates that the 445 is fairly light but still in the middle range of boats in this size range. The DL offers a ratio that allows you to compare boats and predict their quickness and speed capabilities. The lower the ratio, the lighter the boat. By way of comparison, the Beneteau 43 has a DL of 126 (quite light) while the Tartan 43 has DL of 234 (moderate).

A design’s ballast ratio shows you what percentage of the overall displacement is contained in the ballast and keel and thus how resistant it is to heeling. The ratio can range from 25 percent in traditional cruisers to nearly 50 percent in high tech racing machines. The 445’s ballast ratio is quite high at 39 percent when compared to other boats in its class; this gives the boat a very solid feel beneath you and allows it to stand stiffly to the breeze when sailing upwind. It is worth noting that Catalina still uses lead in its keels and has not switched to cast iron.We did not put the 445’s numbers to the test during our sail on San Francisco Bay but we did discover that the new boat is slippery in a light breeze, and that it is both fun and easy to sail.

ON DECKThe cockpit and deck layouts are very well thought out with short-handed crews in mind. The primary sheet winches are large multi-speed winches and placed near the aft wheels in reach of the helmsman. The twin wheels are positioned to enable the helmsman to see forward from the neatly elevated seats port and starboard; the steering linkage between the wheels and rudder are smooth and offer a very good touch at the helm.The cockpit is large and roomy with a folding table that will seat six for a meal. There is a swiveling pod built into the aft end of the table for the chartplotter so you can see the screen from both sides of the boat.Storage for sails, lines and gear has been provided in three good cockpit lockers, two aft and one under the starboard seat. The port cockpit seat is a “gull-wing” molding that flips up to reveal a large hatchway into the aft port cabin. This will be particularly useful when the cabin below is being used as a storage locker.The running rigging is set up for cruising in all weather. The mainsheet traveler on the cabin top is fully adjustable so you can power up or de-power the sail as the wind gusts. The traveler control lines both run to jammers on the port side of the cockpit. The genoa sheet tracks on the side decks are extra long, which will permit you to trim a reefed genoa accurately by moving the cars forward or trim a small storm jib when the wind really picks up. Few production boats offer this detail.

With halyards and reefing lines led aft on the cabin top to winches on either side of the cockpit, you will be able to handle all sail trim tasks from the cockpit; and, with a dodger rigged, you can stay dry and out of the wind while doing so.Catalina has always maintained close relationships with the owners of their boats so they benefit from a lot of feedback from those who are actually out there sailing and cruising. This feedback leads to a lot of useful details in each new design. On deck on the new 445, you will find handholds and rails just where you will need them when underway. You will find an anchor locker forward that is equipped with a large electric windlass and ample room for anchors, rodes and a secondary anchor. And, you will note the 27-inch lifelines that add to safety and security while you are working on deck while sailing.

FLEXIBLE ACCOMMODATIONSThe 445 was designed for a couple who will be cruising on their own but will often have friends and family join them. The accommodation plan has been tailored to meet these specific needs with a large master cabin forward fitted out with a centerline double berth and its own head and a second double cabin aft to starboard with a second head. Both heads are relatively large and the forward one has a separate shower stall.

The port aft cabin has been created as a flexible living space that can accommodate three different uses. Without the need for fancy tools, you can have either a double berth or upper and lower single berths. Or, if you do not have guests aboard, you can convert the cabin into a workshop and storeroom. BWS has not seen a production boat with such a flexible cabin and we think it is a great idea.The saloon has the large galley to port. The twin sinks are nearly on the centerline so they will drain on both tacks; the front loading fridge faces aft so it doesn’t disgorge its contents when the boat heels or rolls; the three-burner, gimbaled stove has a cutting board top that you can use as a level surface even when the boat is heeled over or rolling; and, there are large storage lockers and rack space for all of the supplies, cutlery and dishes you will need.

The chart table to starboard has been designed to fit regular ChartKits on top and to neatly store a laptop computer inside. A pod at eye level can be designed to house a chartplotter. Radios and other instruments can be installed in the large cabinet outboard of the table. This is a very modern and attractive nav station that will appeal to experienced sailors who will appreciate the fact that it faces forward.The dinette to port has a folding table that converts from a low coffee table to a large dining table that will seat five or six. The dinette can also be converted into double berth.To starboard the split settee is long enough to be a sea berth and will be favored in heavy weather since it is right over the boat’s center of gravity. A small table folds up in the middle of the settee, which will be useful for playing cards, holding drinks or just for reading.The décor and finish of the 445 is modern without being trendy. The furniture is teak veneer with solid teak corners and framing. The doors and drawer fronts are solid teak with hand joined handles and louvers and high quality stainless steel latches and hinges.The floors, which are all on one level so you don’t trip, are teak and holly patterned laminate that is both attractive and easy to keep clean. You can tell the 445 was designed and built by sailors for sailors because there are hand holds everywhere and fiddles on the tables and around the galley counter.

UNDER THE HOODThe engineering and systems aboard the 445 are all well thought out and of high quality. The engine compartment under the companionway ladder is very accessible so you can get right in there to perform routine maintenance. The filters for the engine are all grouped to starboard and are easily reached and changed through a special compartment in the starboard aft cabin.Auxiliary systems such as a watermaker, air conditioning or a genset can be fit into the spaces under the berths in the aft cabins or in the large lazarettes aft so they will be easy to get at and work on. The hot water heater nestles beneath the navigator’s bench and the two 8D batteries (440 amp hours) fit into a battery compartment just forward of the engine. The standard Yanmar 54-horsepower engine will drive the boat at hull speed and can maintain a cruising speed of 7 knots at very efficient rpm. With 66 gallons of fuel, the 445 will have a motoring range at 6 knots of nearly 700 miles—enough to motor from Newport to Bermuda.Both heads have their own holding tanks, which have been built in the head compartments above the waterline so they will drain when the overboard seacocks are open. This is a convenient set up for coastal cruisers who regularly sail in the ocean. The tanks also can be emptied with shore side pump out facilities.The installation of the electrical systems, water systems and electronics are all to ABYC and IMIC standards and recommendations so you know you can rely on them for the long term

The new Catalina 445 is an attractive and innovative addition to the Catalina fleet. The boat will serve well as a long haul cruiser whether along the coasts or across oceans. And those who want to live aboard for any length of time will find that the boat is big enough and comfortable enough to be a great floating home away from home. Plus the 445 offers its owners excellent value that will continue to hold its value for years to come.